Unison, which is representing the staff, claims its members with have their sick pay cut and redundancy entitlement reduced if proposals by Foundation go ahead.

Ian Hirst, a support workers and Unison steward, said: “Our members are not going to stand idly by and just take these cuts on the chin and are prepared to go on strike to defend their terms and conditions.”

Unison said ACAS had been involved in talks aimed at resolving the dispute.